Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Government Statements and Transcripts
US Domestic Responses
International Responses
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

October 23, 2001 Airstrikes

Operations

• AFGHAN-ATTACKS VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- U-S defense officials say several bombs missed their intended targets in Afghanistan, but deny reports that a hospital was struck in the western part of the country. Officials also say U-S helicopters came under fire inside neighboring Pakistan, but there was no damage or casualties
• BRITAIN / AFGHAN VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- Britain's defense secretary says (Tuesday) nine of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida training camps have been destroyed inside Afghanistan
• AFGHAN / ATTACKS VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- U-S-led warplanes have carried out more strikes against suspected terrorist targets in Afghanistan and the ruling Taleban's frontlines

Video footage, and pre- and post-strikes aerials used during DoD news briefing
Click on the small image to view a larger version
Footage showing airstrike on a Taliban Command Post near Mazar-e-Sharif
Footage showing airstrike on a Taliban Vth Corps tank in a defensive position in a wadi near Mazar-e-Sharif	Footage showing airstrike on a Taliban Ist Corps Armored Vehicle near Kandahar. Visible is the first weapon which either misses or skips off the vehicle without exploding, while the second weapon detonates on impact

Defense Policy / Programs

Government Statements and Transcripts

• Transcript: Pentagon Spokesman's Briefing, October 23, 2001 23 Oct. 2001-- Clarke: "Also this weekend, two intended targets that were missed: At 11:24 [p.m. EDT] on Saturday, a U.S. Navy F-14 missed its intended target and inadvertently dropped two 500-pound bombs in a residential area northwest of Kabul. (Coughs.) Excuse me. The intended targets were military vehicles parked in an area approximately one half-mile away."
• UK Defence Secretary and Chief of the Defence Staff: Press Conference 23 Oct. 2001-- ". We believe that nine Al Qaida camps were occupied before the start of the military operation; I can now tell you that we have successfully put all of these camps out of action"
• Transcript: Anthrax Discovered at Off-Site White House Mail Facility 23 Oct. 2001-- Fleischer announces this at late afternoon briefing
• Transcript: White House Briefing by Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge 23 Oct. 2001-- "It is very clear that their symptoms are suspicious and their deaths are likely due to anthrax," Ridge said, but "final, definitive medical tests" as to the cause of their deaths are still some hours away.
• Excerpt: Powell Urges Israelis, Palestinians to Reduce Violence 23 Oct. 2001-- So for the first time in a long time, I was seeing some progress toward the Mitchell plan and I was very encouraged. But the very next day, we had a terrorist attack, killed a minister who had just left government.
• Text: Resolution on Afghanistan's Need for Humanitarian Assistance 23 Oct. 2001-- Senator Paul Wellstone (Democrat of Minnesota) introduced a measure to the Senate October 18 on the need to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to both Afghan citizens and refugees.
• Text: Treasury's Dam on Financial Counterterrorism 23 Oct. 2001-- Launching a financial front in the war on terrorism is a new endeavor, one that requires a fresh policy perspective. True, tracking al-Qa'ida's assets is not a "macho" task. But it is a thinking man's war, and that demands skillful diplomacy, vigilant coordination and seamless information sharing. Let me explain why, but first let me explain what we are facing.
• Africans Condemn September 11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States USIA 23 Oct. 2001-- Sub-Saharan African governments, organizations speak out
• Text: U.S. Contributes $10 Million More for Afghan Aid 23 Oct. 2001-- The U.S. is pleased to announce an additional contribution of $10 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in response to its current emergency needs to assist Afghan refugees fleeing to neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan.

US Domestic Responses

• CONGRESS - BIOTERRORISM VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- The U-S House of Representatives Tuesday unanimously passed (419-0) a measure aimed at curbing the threat of bioterrorism by attempting to keep biological toxins from falling into the wrong hands. Lawmakers say they hope the legislation which awaits Senate action will help prevent the kind of anthrax exposures that have killed three people this month
• ASHCROFT / TERRORISM VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- U-S Attorney General John Ashcroft says three men are being sought in connection with the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States

International Responses

• U-N-Mideast VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- The United Nations Security Council is again considering a possible resolution on Mideast violence
• U-S/MIDEAST VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres is brushing aside U-S calls for Israeli troops' immediate withdrawal from six Palestinian-ruled towns in the West Bank. He met at the White House Tuesday with President Bush as the administration, for the second day, continued to press Israel to reverse its largest incursion into the West Bank in nearly a decade
• U-N-AFGHAN FUTURE VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- The top United Nations representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, says any political solution there must be "homegrown."
• RUSSIA/FRANCE/AFGHANISTAN VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- Afghanistan's future and the global war on terrorism were discussed in Moscow with visiting French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.
• UN/AFGHANISTAN VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- U-N relief agencies say they are trying to provide emergency aid to Afghan refugees fleeing the southern city of Kandahar and massing at the Chaman border crossing into Pakistan

Defense Industry

• BAE SYSTEMS to build countermeasure dispensing system for USAF'S F-15 Fighter Aircraft BAE Systems 23 Oct 2001 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions (IDS) a contract to manufacture the BOL 515 countermeasure dispenser system, and to modify the LAU-128 Missile Launchers that house the dispensers.
• U.S. Air Force/Boeing F-15E Makes Air Show Demo Debut in Seoul Boeing 23 Oct 2001 -- A U.S. Air Force/Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle roars through its vertical takeoff as it begins an air show performance at the Korea Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, which was held Oct. 15-21 in Seoul. The air show marked the first-ever aerial display by the F-15E at an international air show.
• CACI Selected for $47 Million Multiple Award Contract With Naval Supply Systems Command CACI 23 Oct 2001 -- CACI International Inc (NASDAQ:CACI) announced today that it has been selected as a prime contractor by the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) to support a five-year, multiple award omnibus contract with a ceiling value of $47 million.
• GE T700/T6A1 Engine Receives Final Certification For Canadian Cormorant; Engine Provides Unmatched Reliability For Search and Rescue Operations GE Aviation 23 Oct 2001 -- The GE T700/T6A1 turboshaft engine has received final certification for use on the Canadian Cormorant helicopter.
• Department Of Defense Clears Way for Northrop Grumman to Acquire Newport News Shipbuilding Northrop Grumman 23 Oct 2001 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) said that the company is pleased with the Department of Defense's statement today which allows Northrop Grumman to go forward with its proposed acquisition of Newport News Shipbuilding (NYSE:NNS).
• ATK Rocket Motors Help Launch Boeing Delta II Rocket Carrying Earth Imaging Satellite ATK 23 Oct 2001 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) (Alliant Techsystems) said rocket motors manufactured by its Aerospace Group helped launch a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle carrying an earth imaging satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on Oct. 18.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 23 Oct 2001

News Reports

• WHITE HOUSE ANTHRAX UPDATE VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- Traces of anthrax have been found on a machine that opens mail for the White House
• RUMSFELD INTERVIEW VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the United States can either become terrorized by the events of September 11th or it can take the battle to the enemy, the al-Qaida terrorist network based in Afghanistan
• The Military and the Media at Wartime VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- During World War II and the Vietnam conflict, American journalists joined soldiers on the battlefields to provide the public an independent perspective of military activities. During the current war on terrorism, reporters' access to war areas has been limited. When soldiers recently departed in helicopters from an aircraft carrier for missions in Afghanistan, no reporters were on hand. Just how much access should reporters have during times of war?
• RUMSFELD INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- Transcript of an interview with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld conducted by V-O-A Tuesday
• BUSH AT APEC VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- The U-S press is commenting on President Bush's trip to Shanghai for the Asia-Pacific Economic Summit, and his talks with the leaders of China and Russia.
• U-S/UZBEK/ANTHRAX VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- Amid growing concerns over the spread of anthrax, the United States has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to remove the deadly bacteria from an island in the heart of central Asia, which had been a major bio-weapons test site during the Cold War.
• BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- The Bush administration has proposed spending about one-and-one-half billion dollars to protect Americans from bioterrorism, but some lawmakers and many health officials say that will not be enough money to do the job. They say many local health and emergency officials need equipment, medication and training.
• Anthrax Found at Off-Site White House Mail Facility USIA 23 Oct. 2001-- Officials suspect international terrorism, but have no hard evidence
• BUSH / CONGRESS VOA 23 Oct. 2001-- President Bush met with Congressional leaders Tuesday morning to brief them on the ongoing military campaign in Afghanistan
• 2001 Mars Odyssey Successfully Arrives At Mars, Now In Orbit And Ready To Begin Science Mission Lockheed Martin 23 Oct 2001 -- The 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft, designed and built by Lockheed Martin for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was successfully placed in orbit around Mars this evening at 8:26 p.m. MT.